Building permits for unincorporated Riverside County come from the Building and Safety Department of the Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA), 4080 Lemon Street, 9th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501, phone 951-955-1800. The Office of the County Fire Marshal also reviews and inspects construction for the county.
This guide covers unincorporated Riverside County and the City of Riverside, the county seat. The TLMA, Environmental Health and Board of Supervisors web pages could not be checked, so the County facts here come from County PDFs and Board records. The only Building and Safety fee list found is an older one that later fee updates have superseded, so no fee amounts are given; ask Building and Safety for current fees.
What requires a building permit in Riverside County?
Ordinance 457 exempts one-story detached sheds, playhouses and similar structures of up to 120 square feet, and fences up to 7 feet high. Block walls over 4 feet high are the exception: they need a permit.
California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments
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Get a free quote →Riverside County’s building ordinance
The County’s building code is Ordinance No. 457, which applies in the unincorporated area. On December 9, 2025 the Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance No. 457.107, which adopts and amends the 2025 California Building Standards Code for the County.
Who handles permitting in Riverside County?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Safety (TLMA) | Grading, plan checks and building inspections in unincorporated areas; 4080 Lemon Street, 9th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501 | 951-955-1800 |
| Office of the County Fire Marshal | Construction review and inspection for the county and its contract cities; 4080 Lemon Street, 10th Floor, Riverside | (951) 955-4777 |
| Fire Marshal Desert Office | 77-933 Las Montanas Rd. #201, Palm Desert, CA 92211 | (760) 863-8886 |
| Department of Environmental Health | Water well permits; written approval of septic (OWTS) plumbing | — |
| County Transportation Director | Permits for excavation, structures or encroachments in a County highway right-of-way (Ordinance 499, Section 2.1) | — |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic systems and wells in Riverside County
Water well permits come from the Department of Environmental Health. Under the County’s septic program (LAMP, 07/09/24), no sewage plumbing system that uses an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) may be built or altered without the Department’s written approval.
Properties within 600 feet of a Clean Water Act Section 303(d) water body impaired for nitrogen or pathogens must meet Tier 3 requirements for a new or replacement septic system.
Riverside County permit costs and fees
Building and Safety fees are set in Appendix A of Ordinance 457. On June 9, 2026 the Board of Supervisors introduced Ordinance No. 457.108 to amend that fee schedule and set the adoption hearing for June 23, 2026. Ask Building and Safety which schedule applies on your filing date.
How to get a building permit in Riverside County
Building and Safety covers new construction in the county’s unincorporated areas; cities such as Riverside issue their own permits.
If the building drains to an OWTS, get Environmental Health’s written approval; parcels near impaired water bodies face Tier 3 requirements.
The Office of the County Fire Marshal reviews and inspects construction for the county.
Work in a County highway right-of-way needs the Transportation Director’s permit before it starts.
Ask Building and Safety for current fees while Ordinance No. 457.108 updates the schedule.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with Riverside County Building and Safety on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California
Building permits in the City of Riverside
Inside the City of Riverside, building permits come from the Building & Safety Division of the Community & Economic Development Department at City Hall, 3900 Main St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92522. The counter is open Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, except Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, and the information line is (951) 826-5697.
City inspections are requested on the Automated Inspection Request Line, (951) 826-5361, with the permit number and 3-digit inspection code; requests received before 5:00 pm are usually scheduled for the next business day.
Rather not deal with the Riverside County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Riverside County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Riverside County public works and community services
- Ordinance No. 457.107 (PDF)
- Ordinance No. 457.108 fee update, June 9, 2026 (PDF)
- Office of the County Fire Marshal
- Riverside County LAMP (PDF)
- Ordinance 499: County highway encroachments (PDF)
- City of Riverside Building & Safety contacts
- City of Riverside inspections
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Does a block wall need a permit in unincorporated Riverside County?
Yes, if it is over 4 feet high. Other fences up to 7 feet high are exempt under Ordinance 457.
What are Riverside County’s building permit fees?
The County introduced Ordinance No. 457.108 on June 9, 2026 to amend the fee schedule, so ask Building and Safety (951-955-1800) for current figures.
Who approves a septic system in Riverside County?
The Department of Environmental Health. No sewage plumbing system using an OWTS may be built or altered without its written approval.
Simplify Riverside County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Check whether the parcel is in a city or on county land, and which county offices beyond Building must sign off
- Line up septic, well, encroachment and fire approvals so they do not hold up the building permit
- File in the county portal, track review rounds and book inspections against the county’s cut-off times
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Riverside County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.